Women’s Basketball Goes Down in Final Seconds at New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Air Force Women's Basketball battled back from a double-digit deficit on Tuesday evening at New Mexico and claimed a late lead over the Lobos, but the Falcons ultimately fell on the wrong side of the scoreboard, going down 77-74 to UNM in The Pit.

Senior Madison Smith led all scoring, putting up 21 points (9-18 FG, 3-8 3FG, 6 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL); Junior Milahnie Perry followed up with 18 and sophomore Keelie O'Hollaren added 11 on 3-5 from three-point range.

Air Force closed the opening quarter with a 24-19 lead over the Lobos behind an eight-point start for Smith and 2-3 showing from three-point range for O'Hollaren. The Falcons climbed to a five-point advantage twice in the opening ten minutes and New Mexico answered at both, before Jordyn Devaughn drove the Lobo basket at the first-quarter buzzer to lift the Falcons back to a 24-19 lead.

In the second quarter, the Falcons hung within a possession for most of the game and experienced three lead changes, before the Lobos claimed a late advantage that held through to the late stages of the game. Air Force finished the half shooting 13-33 (.455) from the field and 5-12 (.417) but trailed 42-38 at the break.

The third quarter was dictated by scoring runs that first saw UNM go up by 11, followed by a 10-2 swing for the Falcons to cut the Lobos' lead back to a single basket. New Mexico answered by closing out the third quarter on an 8-2 run broken up by a pair of last-minute baskets by Perry and senior Jo Huntimer (7 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST) to put leave Air Force with just a 61-56 deficit to cover with 10 minutes remaining.

In the fourth quarter, Air Force outscored UNM 18-16, tying the game off a Huntimer three-pointer with 2:31 remaining and taking the lead off of Perry free throws with less than two minutes to go.

With 12 seconds remaining, Lobo Destinee Hooks drew a shooting foul driving against Smith with 12 seconds to go gave the Lobos back a 75-74 lead; Hooks missed her free throw and the resulting rebound put the ball back in Air Force's hands.

Smith, taking the inbound pass after a Falcon timeout, found the open look Air Force needed to get a game winner but was fouled with the Lobos last free whistle. With four seconds to go, a mishandled inbounds pass out to Perry gave possession back to UNM, effectively sealing the game.

Up Next:
Air Force, the No. 7 seed in the Credit Union 1 2025 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship, will take on No. 10 Utah State in Game Two on Sunday, March 9 at 5:30 MT.

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